There aren’t many rivalries in collegiate sports that go back as far in history as Yale and Harvard do. When these two Ivy League rivals get together tonight at Harvard’s Bright Center (7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN) it’s a battle between two schools jockeying for better positioning in the ECAC.

For Yale coach Keith Allain’s squad, they’ve gone from former NCAA tournament top seeds last year to falling on hard times in conference this season (5-6-1 in conference, 8-9-2 overall).

Senior captain Brian O’Neill is leading the way in scoring with 12 goals and 10 assists, but highly touted sophomore and Penguins draft pick Kenny Agostino is there as well to try and keep the Bulldogs’ once high-powered offense clicking.

Goalie Jeff Malcolm is doing his part in keeping Yale in most games, but his record this season is .500. Last weekend Yale was swept by Union and RPI while scoring just two goals on the weekend. That kind of offense won’t cut it against Harvard, especially since the Crimson are apt to giving up goals.

Harvard coach, and former Boston Bruin, Ted Donato comes in with a roster loaded with NHL draftees but a team that’s struggling (3-4-6 in conference, 4-6-8 overall).

One area that needs work for the Crimson is in goal. Freshman Stephen Michalek (Minnesota) has been thrown to the wolves in Cambridge and is doing his part to keep Harvard winning (or at least tying). Harvard has done well to stay in games, however, something Donato says he appreciates seeing and provides character to his team.

What to watch for: Power plays. Both Harvard and Yale make their living on the man advantage. Harvard has been burying teams on the power play scoring at a 33.8% rate while Yale is putting pucks in the net 23.6% of the time.

26 of Harvard’s 54 goals this season have come on the power play and Killorn has seven of them. Meanwhile, Yale has 21 power play goals and O’Neill has eight of them. Taking penalties could mean taking a loss in this game.